Introduction
The use of terminologies and classification system plays an important role in the development of nursing information systems. The International Classification for Nursing Practice (ICNP®) Version 1 was developed by the International Council of Nurses (ICN) and has a unique contribution. ICNP® Version 1 is a global reference terminology that facilitates world-wide collection and comparison of nursing data. To facilitate the development of Version 1, the ICN requested testing of the beta version of ICNP® for specific patient groups in clinical practice.1 Following this request, the present project was undertaken applying ICNP® to internistic-oncological patients. This project investigated the coverage of this patient group by mapping terminology used in practice with ICNP®.
Aim
The specific aim of the project is to build a subset of ICNP® terms for oncological patients that can be used as a basic data catalogue for computerised nursing documentation. Furthermore the mappings, quality of match, and experiences of mapping was evaluated to discuss the domain completeness and utility of the ICNP in depicting the typical situation of oncological patients. Results may include recommendations for adding new terms to expand ICNP®.
Methods and Materials
The study was carried out at the “Klinik für Tumorbiologie” in Freiburg, Germany. The data bases used include 67 standard nursing care plans applied in the institution. The nursing care plans were based on nursing diagnoses and described typical patient’s reactions to health problems and nurses actions. The care plans are used by the nurses at the Klink in the arrangement of the daily patient documentation. According to the cross-mapping methods applied by Berekoven2 and Ruland3 the nursing diagnoses and interventions contained in the nursing care plans were abstracted and decomposed using the ICNP® framework. The terms are organised according to the different ICNP® axes and afterwards mapped to ICNP® terms and concepts using the guidelines for cross-mapping elaborated by the ICN. The comparability between the terms found in the care plans and the ICNP® were assessed and each mapped set of terms was assigned one of four different match codes.
Findings
The finding of this study will be submitted to the ICNP® Review Process. The results can contribute to extending the ICNP® content. The new ICNP® statements will provide a beginning of an ICNP® catalogue for cancer care.
References
[1] Coenen A. The International Classification for Nursing Practice (INCP®) Programme: Advancing a Unifying Framework for Nursing. Online Journal of Nursing Issues in Nursing. http://www.nursingworld.org/ojin/tpc7/tpc7_8.htm 2003. (20.09.2004).
[2] Berekoven B. Entwicklung und Evaluation eines Vorgehensmodells und von Qualitätskriterien für die Übersetzung von beliebigen pflegerischen Daten in die Beta-ICNP. Unpublished thesis, University of Applied Sciences Osnabrück. 2002.
[3] Ruland CM. Evaluating the Beta version of the International Classification for Nursing practice for domain completeness, applicability of its axial structure and utility in clinical practice: a Norwegian project. International Nursing Review 2001 (48); 9-16.